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141092 SE The Arab World in Modern Times: Political and Social Issues (2025S)

8.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 14 - Orientalistik, Afrikanistik, Indologie und Tibetologie
Continuous assessment of course work
Mo 10.03. 11:30-13:00 Seminarraum Arabica UniCampus Hof 4 2D-O1-27

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 30 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Monday 17.03. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum Arabica UniCampus Hof 4 2D-O1-27
  • Monday 24.03. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum Arabica UniCampus Hof 4 2D-O1-27
  • Monday 31.03. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum Arabica UniCampus Hof 4 2D-O1-27
  • Monday 07.04. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum Arabica UniCampus Hof 4 2D-O1-27
  • Monday 28.04. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum Arabica UniCampus Hof 4 2D-O1-27
  • Monday 05.05. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum Arabica UniCampus Hof 4 2D-O1-27
  • Monday 12.05. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum Arabica UniCampus Hof 4 2D-O1-27
  • Monday 19.05. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum Arabica UniCampus Hof 4 2D-O1-27
  • Monday 26.05. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum Arabica UniCampus Hof 4 2D-O1-27
  • Monday 02.06. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum Arabica UniCampus Hof 4 2D-O1-27
  • Monday 16.06. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum Arabica UniCampus Hof 4 2D-O1-27
  • Monday 23.06. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum Arabica UniCampus Hof 4 2D-O1-27
  • Monday 30.06. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum Arabica UniCampus Hof 4 2D-O1-27

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

This seminar covers a few topics and problems related to modern Arab societies. Its aim is to enhance our understanding of social change and dynamics in these societies. The seminar is divided into three major parts.

The first part is dedicated to the notion of Arab Nationalism. We will discuss the history of Arab Nationalism and the concepts accompanying it. The major questions the sessions will address are: what are the ideological principles of Arab Nationalism; can we talk about Pan-Arab Nationalism when we have strong local-based Nationalisms; what is the effect of Islamism on nationalistic ideologies, especially after the Seventies? We will look into specific expressions of Arab Nationalism, such as Nasserism and Ba'athism, and read about some prominent thinkers on Nationalism, such as Sati al-Husri and Constantin Zureiq.

The second part is dedicated to a discussion of a core structure in society—family - as a societal unit and institution. We will try to understand the place of men and women and their changing roles within family. We will look into different discourses of kinship systems and the interaction of tradition and modernity within different settings of kinship.

The third part is dedicated to the exploration of politics of arts in the Arab world. We will investigate themes such as interactions between artistic production and democratization process, the artists' role during the Arab Spring, the roles of international organizations and funding in the arrangements of art politics in Arab countries, and the modes of their interventions in Arab arts settings.

Learning Outcomes: Part I
After successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
• Have a general idea about the history of Arab nationalism and the main concepts around it
• Distinguish between various policies of Arab nationalism
• Grasp the discords among various patterns of thought related to the issue of nationalism
• Acquire knowledge on various expressions of Arab nationalism and its critique

Learning Outcomes: Part II
After successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
• Understand the modes of function of Arab families
• To evaluate the (changing) roles of men and women in the societal unit of family
• To have better image on the notion of kinship in Arab societies, and on the interaction of modernity and tradition within various kinships
• To see in what ways family as a unit can affect larger polities

Learning Outcomes: Part III
After successful completion of the course, students will have a better idea on the
• The interaction between Art production and society
• The role of artistic production in the improvement of societies
• State policies towards artists and art institutions
• Relationships between foreign funds and local art institutions

Assessment and permitted materials

Active participation in class
Seminar leading questions
Final presentation

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

• Active participation and reading: 30%:
Each student is expected to attend the seminar regularly, prepared with readings. The course is heavily based on discussion; therefore, students are expected to read and discuss intensively.

• Discussion leading: 30%:
Each student will be assigned to take over a discussion leading for a session. This means the student must send 4 discussion questions to the group via e-mail or Moodle at least a day before the seminar. We will discuss the session based on these questions.

• Conference Paper Presentation: 40%
During the last two sessions, we will have a mini conference in which each student will do a research presentation on a topic that he /she chooses in advance. This will be something like a mock conference where the students will act as speakers and provide a presentation with clearly articulated research questions and arguments.

Examination topics

Final presentation

Reading list

Check the Moodle

Association in the course directory

GK-2

Last modified: Mo 27.01.2025 15:46